Is There Hope With Joint Relief Products For Joint Pain?

What Is Joint Relief Product?
Joint relief products are food supplements prepared and sold with the hope that they contain ingredients that are able to fight the symptoms of all types of arthritis.

Essential Ingredients
The effectiveness of joint relief products in dealing with pain is thought to be aided by functions of their ingredients. Most joint pain relief products contain the following key ingredients:

• Glucosamine( an essential part of joint relief products) is either produced in the laboratory or extracted from exoskeletons of crabs, lobsters, shrimp and other sea creatures as often produced by many commercial features.


• Just like glucosamine, Chondroitin (anessential component of joint relief products) can be manufactured commercially in the labs by it is most often extracted shark and cow cartilage.


• Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is thought to treat various conditions including osteoarthritis, snoring and stress.


• Oral hyaluronic acid (a component of synovial fluid) is touted to be a treatment for osteoarthritis. Oral versions of this ingredient are available in the market. However, no clinical evidence has been provided as to whether this substance is effective in treating osteoarthritis.

How Does They Work?

• Glucosamine is a key component of chondroitin sulfate [a specific kind of polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG)''] and is thought to present a two-pronged action to joint problems: It increases the production of new GAGs which results in the formation of new cartilage and it also inhibits the production of enzymes responsible to wear of cartilage. Chondroitin sulfate is the major building block of proteoglycan (PG). Its action in alleviating joint pain is thought to involve the production of new cartilage as well as inhibiting the production of enzymes responsible for wear of cartilage.


• Evidence from some scientific research studies have pointed out that joint relief product is more effective when chondroitin and glucosamine sulfate are combined.


• Hyaluronic acid is formed in two places: In the synoviocyte cells inside the joint lining and also formed in the cartilage by the chondrocyte cells. This ingredient is an essential component of both the joint fluid and joint cartilage. It provides good lubrication between surfaces.

Other ingredients contained in other joint products include:

• Vitamin C: In addition to being an anti-oxidant, vitamin C also helps in the formation of collagen.


• Copper, Manganese, and zinc: The three ingredients are required for the formation of GAGs and collagen.


• MSM: It has anti-inflammatory effects and it also helps to form cartilage matrix.

Once you know what type of ingredients is contained in joint relief products, it is time to pick your best product. While trying to choose your product, you need to choose companies with the following characteristics:

• With no bold claim of curing the disease as no treatment has so far been clinically proved to be effective on such line.


• That indicates all the list of all ingredients used to make it.


• That has performed some research on the effectiveness of their product, and has shared it on their official website.


• That gives product analysis: a good product analysis must indicate the minimum amount of each ingredient.


• That which is reputed for its protection of people, but not the one that risks the lives of people for the sake of money.


• The other key factor you ought to look at is whether the manufacturer belongs to NASC (National Animal Supplement Council) or not. NASC is a non-profit company responsible for bringing sanity to joint product relief industries.

Is It Safe To Use Joint Relief Products?
There has never been quality evidence showing the efficacy of these products on the joints. Of the available ingredients, a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin or each separately -are shown to have greater effects on joint pain by clinical trials. MSM has also been shown to have greater effects, though more studies need to be done to ascertain this claim.

Bottom Line
In general, it can be said that joint relief products are more or less like placebo. There are also known to have minor side-effects and therefore there is no reason why they cannot be used by people. The only thing that physicians ought to do is to provide information for dosing and potential effects with allergies.